Hamilton police have no plans to track or share data on $279K armoured rescue vehicle
Staff Sgt. Darren Murphy told CBC Hamilton the truck is a safety tool and can help with recruitment
A Hamilton police staff sergeant says the service has no plans to track or release any data on how officers use its $279,000 armoured rescue vehicle.
Staff Sgt. Darren Murphy told CBC Hamilton in an interview this week he doesn't think its use is worth tracking, saying it's just another vehicle that's part of the fleet.
"It's not anything I would consider to be important or relevant to have to report on," he said.
The interview followed efforts by CBC Hamilton to get statistics on how the souped up, 15,000-pound truck is used.
CBC previously filed a freedom of information request to find out how often the vehicle was deployed, where it was used and why since its debut in 2013.
Hamilton police said it never had a system to track the truck's use and it would cost at least $5,060 to get those details.
Policing advocates and researchers said the police service's response raises questions around the vehicle's value and the service's transparency.
CBC appealed the interim decision through Ontario's privacy commissioner and, through that process, was offered an interview with Murphy, who has been with the police service for 26 years and started with the Emergency Response Unit in 2001.
Truck used at community events and in at least 1 recent standoff
Police say its emergency response unit uses the truck to get people out of extreme situations, protect officers from gunfire, help in off-road situations, move obstacles and communicate to people using a speaker system.
Murphy couldn't specify how many times the vehicle is used annually, saying it would be a guess.
But the truck has been used in at least one emergency situation this year — a deadly encounter on May 27 that saw a Hamilton landlord killing two tenants before dying after a shootout with police.
It was used during the hours-long standoff between police and the gunman — with what appeared to be a battering ram attachment on the front of the vehicle.
WATCH | Police respond after two people were shot to death in Hamilton
"It allows the officers an ability to just get a little bit closer to maintain a tighter containment for the safety of the residents ... otherwise, police officers would have to back off a considerable distance without being able to potentially monitor what's happening inside that house," Det. Sgt. Steve Bereziuk told media the day after the incident.
"It very well could have saved officers' lives."
Murphy said the truck was damaged during the incident and it's the only time he can recall the truck being shot at.
"It was obviously a big safety piece of equipment we had in our toolbox to help keep our officers safe," he said.
The truck can also be used for training or community events.
Murphy said he estimates the truck appears at community events between five and 10 times a year, saying it helps people see and understand the tools officers use, and helps with recruitment.
"Some people might view the vehicle as intimidating … but when you're at a Police in the Park event and able to talk to the officers, it breaks down the barriers," he said.
"As a recruiting aspect and trying to bring people into the organization, it's an interesting vehicle … it can be a bit of an icebreaker to help to strengthen our relationship with the community."
He said officers drive the truck an average of 2,000 kilometres per year, which means the vehicle has travelled roughly 20,000 kilometres.
"It doesn't get driven too far, generally from where it's kept, to a scene, and back," Murphy said. "It's not a vehicle we would patrol in."
Police previously said the service has spent $60,490 on parts and labour on the vehicle, including an engine replacement.
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